Viola plant named ‘Sunviocoba’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Viola  plant named ‘Sunviocoba’, characterized by its semi-upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; and dark violet-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Viola cornuta.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNVIOCOBA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Viola plant, botanically known as Viola cornuta and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunviocoba’.

The new Viola plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program was to create new semi-upright to outwardly spreading and freely branching Viola cultivars with unique and attractive flower coloration.

The new Viola plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2004, in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, of a proprietary selection of Viola cornuta identified as code number 01V-132-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Viola cornuta identified as code number VF177-3, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Viola plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in April, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Viola plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since May, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Viola plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Viola have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunviocoba’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunviocoba’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Viola:

-   -   1. Semi-upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Dark violet-colored flowers.

Compared to plants of the female parent selection, plants of the new Viola differ primarily in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have blue violet and creamy white bi-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Viola are larger than plants of the female parent selection.

Compared to plants of the male parent selection, plants of the new Viola differ primarily in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have lighter violet-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Viola have smaller flowers than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Viola can also be compared to plants of the Viola cornuta ‘Sunviolabu’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,264. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Viola and ‘Sunviolabu’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Viola were larger than plants of         ‘Sunviolabu’.     -   2. Plants of the new Viola had larger leaves than plants of         ‘Sunviolabu’.     -   3. Plants of the new Viola and ‘Sunviolabu’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘Sunviolabu’ had light violet-colored         flowers.     -   4. Plants of the new Viola had longer peduncles than plants of         ‘Sunviolabu’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Viola plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Viola plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunviocoba’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunviocoba’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, under commercial practice during the autumn and winter in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse with day temperatures averaging 10° C. and night temperatures averaging 5° C. Plants were five and four months old when the description and photographs, respectively, were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Viola cornuta ‘Sunviocoba’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Viola             cornuta identified as code number 01V-132-1, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Viola             cornuta identified as code number VF177-3, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at 20° C. to             25° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at 15° C. to             20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant roots, summer.—About             four weeks at 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant roots, winter.—About             four weeks at 15° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/habit.—Semi-upright and outwardly spreading plant             habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit,             pinching enhances branching.         -   Plant height.—About 17.2 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 35 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 9.2 cm. Diameter: About             2.4 mm. Internode length: About 1.5 cm. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 2.9 cm.         -   Width.—About 2 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Rounded to obtuse.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Crenate, shallow.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation,             close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 137C; venation, close to 144B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 2.8 cm. Diameter: About 0.8 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144B.         -   Stipule.—Length: About 2.9 cm. Diameter: About 1.8 cm.             Shape: Pinnately-parted. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: Close to 137B. Color, lower surface: Close to             137C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single flowers borne in upper leaf axils;             flowers face obliquely outward; freely flowering habit with             about 42 flowers per plant.         -   Fragrance.—Slightly scented; pleasant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about eight             to ten weeks after planting; continuously flowering from             early November to May in Japan.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about five to seven             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Shape: Lenticular. Color: Close to 83A.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.1 cm by 3.1 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Eye diameter.—About 4.6 mm by 3.9 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Five in a single whorl; two             upper petals, two lateral petals and one lower petal,             spurred. Upper petals: Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About             1.8 cm. Shape: Obovate with rounded to truncate apex and             attenuate base; margin, entire and slightly undulate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             Developing and fully expanded petals, upper surface: Lighter             than N81A. Developing and fully expanded petals, lower             surface: Darker than N81B. Lateral petals: Length: About             1.7 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Elliptic with rounded             apex and attenuate base; margin, entire and slightly             undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Developing and fully expanded petals, upper             surface: Darker than 83A; stripes at base, close to N92A.             Developing and fully expanded petals, lower surface: Close             to N87A. Lower petal: Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About             1.9 cm. Shape: Reniform with truncate apex and attenuate             base; margin, entire and slightly undulate. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing and             fully expanded petals, upper surface: Darker than 83A;             stripes at base, close to N92A. Developing and fully             expanded petals, lower surface: Close to N87A. Eye color:             Close to 14A. Spur length: About 4.5 mm. Spur diameter:             About 1 mm. Spur color: Close to 189A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl. Length: About 1.6 cm. Width: About 3.2 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 138A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 10.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             five. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 2.7 mm             by 1.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 4D, towards the apex,             close to 170B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Yellow.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             5 mm. Stigma shape: Ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to             144D. Ovary color: Close to 145B.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Viola have not been noted     to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Viola. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Viola have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures from about −7° C. to about 25° C. 

1. A new and distinct Viola plant named ‘Sunviocoba’ as illustrated and described. 